Defensive Midfield?

[Cerberus Blade]

Last season, Duffy played the 10 role, but when the opposition had possession he dropped into Rcm to provide us with a flat 3 most of the time. Apart from being left footed, which I know cw likes to have players on their 'correct' side, I don't see why freeman couldn't do that.

He looked very average for most of the game v Sunderland. He put a bit of a spurt on in the second half, but up till then, you wouldn't have noticed him. He needs to up his game a bit and show us why he was QPR's best player last season and one of the highest ranked in the Championship, because up to now, we haven't seen it - and that's why he's not in the starting line-up.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[Cerberus Blade]

A lot has been said about our flat midfield three this season, and it's safe to say that unless someone plays consistently bad, gets injured or suspended, it's likely to remain as Norwood/Fleck/Lundstram. Many feel that Freeman would bring a better balance and better attacking side to the team and that he's been unlucky to miss out.

The flat midfield three has often been dismissed, by myself as well, as being too defensive. However, it's proven to work as we've remained tight at the back and given opponents no room to move in midfield or to get behind us.

During the transfer window Wilder made it very clear that he wanted a box to box midfielder but didn't land one, and I'm starting to understand this better now after the recent matches.

Although Freeman would support to the front two in the "Duffy" role, or McGoldrick in the same role, neither would drop back deep enough to support the two other midfielders off the ball.

That said, in recent matches we have been playing with the player that Wilder was wanting to sign. Enter the fray, John Fleck. Our box to box midfielder.

Against both Southampton and Liverpool Fleck kept up his defensive duties, supporting Norwood and Lundstram off the ball. But when we had possession he was regularly found surging forward, supporting the front two and creating chances for himself and others. He was key to out attacking play in both matches.

So in reflection, I've changed my tune about the flat midfield three. With Flecks recent prominence it is both an attacking and defensive set up. We just need Fleck and the strikers to start putting away the chances he's involved in.

I realise I’m responding to your original early thread from months ago. But the point I want to make is that it isn’t safe to assume anything about our formation. So many fans do but I think it’s not correct.

I hear “but we don’t play wingers” for example, but who is to say we won’t? Why wouldn’t we?

Why would we always want to stick with a “flat midfield three”?

I think the key to success at the highest level of professional football is not to be a fixed formation or tactics, but to vary it. Sometimes in the same game several times.

The ability to vary play, to change it up, is key to gaining an advantage. So I wouldn’t rule out seeing us sign players that can do that and changing the formation to suit.

It’s not about signing players to fit our current system. It’s about signing players who give us options to change our current system when we need to.

 

[Keen Blade]

If our CBs are expected to overlap + our WBs are supposed to be wingers , then why cant all our midfielders be box to box ?
We need to be able to attack with more pace when we win the ball + half the opposition are stranded upfield.
But all too often we recycle the ball around until we face 11 defenders + then start our slow methodical passing build-up down the flanks.
I'm hoping that we sign some ball carrying players who can run at defences + take advantage immediately we win the ball.

 

[Bladezz]

If our CBs are expected to overlap + our WBs are supposed to be wingers , then why cant all our midfielders be box to box ?
We need to be able to attack with more pace when we win the ball + half the opposition are stranded upfield.
But all too often we recycle the ball around until we face 11 defenders + then start our slow methodical passing build-up down the flanks.
I'm hoping that we sign some ball carrying players who can run at defences + take advantage immediately we win the ball.

Because in the PL box to box midfielders are pretty average. There aren’t many if any good PL players who can do it all. They normally have a specific role whether it be attacking or defending. That’s how we can change a balance from taking Berge off a more defensive midfielder and putting on say a swift who’s more attacking etc.

You are are right though I would like to see a ball carrier in there

 

[Bergen Blade]

Because in the PL box to box midfielders are pretty average. There aren’t many if any good PL players who can do it all. They normally have a specific role whether it be attacking or defending. That’s how we can change a balance from taking Berge off a more defensive midfielder and putting on say a swift who’s more attacking etc.

You are are right though I would like to see a ball carrier in there

A midfield of Cash - Berge - Fleck (maybe even Swift for Cash) has three decent ball carriers and would in theory make us look more dynamic. Of course they would have to find a good balance in other aspects of the game as well.


IF the rumoured signings happen, we could find ourselves with a few combinations that we'd use depending on the likely pattern of play, i.e.


Away at Liverpool, likely to be a lot of defending; great work rate required, but also mobility for quick counter attacks:

Cash - Berge - Fleck

McBurnie Watkins


Home vs Newcastle, where we'd be expected to dominate possession against a deep defending opposition:

Swift - Norwood - Fleck

McBurnie McGoldrick


... and of course more combinations of these for other games.

 

[Bladezz]

A midfield of Cash - Berge - Fleck (maybe even Swift for Cash) has three decent ball carriers and would in theory make us look more dynamic. Of course they would have to find a good balance in other aspects of the game as well.


IF the rumoured signings happen, we could find ourselves with a few combinations that we'd use depending on the likely pattern of play, i.e.


Away at Liverpool, likely to be a lot of defending; great work rate required, but also mobility for quick counter attacks:

Cash - Berge - Fleck

McBurnie Watkins


Home vs Newcastle, where we'd be expected to dominate possession against a deep defending opposition:

Swift - Norwood - Fleck

McBurnie McGoldrick


... and of course more combinations of these for other games.

Cash was an out and out winger who’s converted to full back. Absolutly perfect for our RWB role. I don’t see him being in the RCM. Would be unusual but could be tried. Would rather him and Baldock battle it out for that spot.